Domaine Benastra
Languedoc, France
The Languedoc-Roussillon region of France is quickly becoming the hot destination for young winemakers to strike out and be innovative, especially those that find the more established appellation systems too restrictive. Joseph Paille grew up in the wine industry in Anjou, and after his education took him across the globe (even a brief stint in Virginia during the early 2000s) joined with his stepfather Jo Pithon to create the Pithon Paille winery
For almost a decade they built a very accomplished name together, but Joseph felt the pull of doing something new, and went to Roussillon to start Domaine Benastra. Sourcing old vineyards and taking the extensive organic/biodynamic farming practices he mastered in the Loire to new territories, he's building wines that are leaping to the forefront of the region.